Phew!

These past few weeks have been crazy busy to put it mildly! I don't know if I can remember a time when I was so exhausted... well I probably could, I'm just too tired to think that hard right now- lol!

Blogging has definitely taken a back seat these days, but I am learning to let that go. I have so many things I want to share about and discuss even, but it seems that in this season of life right now it is much more difficult to have a few minutes of free time to do those things than it once was. I am focusing on what the Lord is asking of me each day and while it has been good, it has been hard too. If you have emailed me or messaged me- I am so sorry- I am trying to get back to you soon!

Since I last posted, we finished up our school year and am already planning and organizing our next year's curriculum, finished spring soccer, attended many parties and fun events-yay!, taken Elliana for a few dr's appts, planning and discussing our Ethiopia trip with others, starting a fundraiser for the same trip, preparing for the mission focus for our VBS, attempting to get back into photography, and running around all week at VBS on very few hours of sleep! Add a very clingy toddler to the mix and you might guess how well it's going now!

It has been a full but very blessed June around here. Right before we finished school, we made a list of things we'd all like to do this summer. Summer is my very favorite time, and I think that you especially appreciate it even more when you homeschool. Just a time for us to hang out and make plans without the added stress of teaching them half the day... it is a beautiful thing! Our list of things we'd like to do this summer is a combination of day trips, projects to get done, and people's houses that have pools that we can invite ourselves over to- lol! Unfortunately our June has been SO busy that we haven't really even done one thing on that list! I take that back- we have bbq'd more, swam at Grandma's house, and taken a few bike rides- so that is fun! I am looking forward to this week when most of the craziness has settled down and we can do a few things before Randy and the boys leave on their trip. (more on that later.)

As much as I am so tired from last week, I wouldn't trade my job at vacation bible school for anything. We have an AMAZING children's ministries director who actually writes and plans the entire vacation bible school for our church every year. Yes, everything from the theme, skits, characters, crafts, etc etc etc... she comes up with a plan for all of it! I do not know how she does it except that it is God working through her and giving her those special gifts. It is always so well done with the truth of God's word at the very core of it all.


And this year there were over 150 leaders to help implement all of it! But guess what? I seriously get the absolute BEST job of the entire VBS... in my opinion that is! I get to plan and lead the mission focus for the week and it is always such an amazing blessing to be a part of. God is always right in the middle of it all and I love that He just brings it all together in such a beautiful way. And this year was no exception.



This year we chose to partner with one of my favorite organizations Lifesong for Orphans to raise funds for a school in Ziway, Ethiopia.

Each day I would give the kids a scenario of what life is like in Ethiopia, show pictures on the screen and then introduce our prayer points for the day. They got cards to take home and show their parents and learned ways that they could be in prayer for the children in Ziway. Thursday night we showed the Ethiopia video I posted a few months ago and it touched many who were there. The kids really get into these mission projects and I am constantly amazed at how HUGE their hearts are for the orphans and less fortunate children. These young ones do SO much more in one week to serve the Lord than some adults do in a year!

They did everything from lemonade and kool-aid stands, to making bracelets, passing out baby bottles to fill up, painting rocks, baking cookies, and even selling frogs!

There were around 250 children last week bringing in their pennies, nickels and dimes to make a difference for the Kingdom of God- having complete faith that the Lord would provide the funds. And can you imagine being there on Friday morning- hearing all of their excited voices and seeing their little faces light up when they heard the total amount brought in... $4,700 for the children in Ethiopia!!!  This was enough to build an entire playground structure ($3,500- our first goal) as well as an additional $1,200 for the children's school supplies such as desks, uniforms, books, etc. Our amazing God did that! These children truly have missionary hearts and I seriously cannot wait to see how the Lord will continue to use them throughout their young lives.

One word: VBS

Is that even a word? It is when your entire day/week revolves around it! In a good way!!!

Anyway, we came home from the beach and jumped right into Vacation Bible School this week! I was reminded of THIS POST (click to read) again today. I wrote it exactly a year ago today. And while I don't have time to write anything today, I will say that God is at work in mighty ways and it has been even more of a blessing this year than last year if that is even possible! I have a lot to write about, but I'll only post a few pictures for now. Here is a sneak peek and there's more to come soon. Have a great week and happy summer to you!

Lessons from VBS: an unexpected humbling

This week is our church's (and I'm sure many others) Vacation Bible School. I usually have pretty mixed feelings about VBS, sometimes wondering why we try so hard to pull off this huge event for mostly church kids and wanting to just take all those volunteers and money to a few neighborhoods in a different part of town to bless children who might not otherwise have the opportunity. Sometimes the decorations and the prizes and the food unintentionally become the focus and we lose sight of our goal of bringing the little children to Jesus. Sometimes we leave and I feel as though we have taken 2 steps back instead of a step forward. Sometimes I just want to scream: It's not about us- our kids don't need one more thing to entertain them! And sometimes (ok I'll confess, most times) I think next year will be different, or we just won't help or go, but really don't do much to ensure that or even give that input.

But not this year.

No, this year has been different. A lot of things are different, and I won't go into every detail. But can I just tell you how humbled I am to have the priveledge of watching a huge group of believers come together and joyfully serve the Lord and really seek His kindom first. I am amazed and so thankful for the vision that God has given to our children's ministries director and her team to really use vbs as an outreach and opportunity for our children to be a part of God's bigger picture for the world.

*I have seen little ones giving all their savings to help build a school for the children in Mali, Africa.

*I have seen the youth really step up in their roles as servant-leaders and already after only 2 days make a difference in many children's lives (including one of my own). Love you guys!

*I have seen many adults, young and old, sacrificing their time and energy to be there with smiles and laughter and really making God's word come alive!

*I have seen the multitudes of children memorizing & repeating the theme verse Psalm 119:33-34 and the 10 commandments with joy and understanding.

*And I have seen all of the behind the scenes servants who joyfully and creatively use their many gifts to encourage and build up the body of Christ, even when they will never be publicly recognized.

*I am learning that whenever I have my own opinions about something, it's only a matter of time before the Lord is trying to get my attention and whatever pride I could have taken in my warped view- is pretty much shattered!

*I am learning to love to be proved wrong when it comes to these things, because it is what God uses to help me grow and produce fruit eventually. (For those that know me really well, note that I said learning!)

*I am learning that I am not the only one in this town who has a heart for lost people all over the world and who longs for everyone to worship Jesus. (imagine that!)

*I am learning that there are SO many different ways to serve our Lord and I absolutley love to watch the body of Christ with it's many parts function as a whole.

*And I am mostly learning to watch and look for God's fingerprints that are everywhere, before I go and attempt to smudge them with some preconceived idea that I have already thought up. (can we say, ouch!)

Wow, and all this time I thought my boys were going to be the only ones to come home from Vacation Bible School having learned more about who God is. Hmmm, maybe that is why Jesus said in Matthew 18:3-4

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."